Greek Fiscal Council to cost political election programs

The Greek Fiscal Council (ΕΔΣ) has activated a new mechanism to provide voluntary fiscal costing for political parties' election programs. This initiative, enabled by Law 5217/2025, aims to shift political debate from mere promises to the actual fiscal impact and funding sources of proposed measures.

Under the new process, parties can submit up to ten specific proposals for costing starting November 1, 2026, until 120 days before an election. Priority will be given to measures with a significant annual fiscal impact exceeding €50 million, such as changes to income tax, social benefits, or public sector wages. Proposals must be compatible with the Constitution, EU law, and international obligations.

While the process is voluntary, it is expected to create political pressure for parties to justify their platforms with data. Challenges for the Council include ensuring perceived impartiality and the technical difficulty of assessing secondary economic consequences or complex macroeconomic impacts.